Italy Reborn: From Fascism to Democracy [Hardcover]

A brilliant, meticulously researched account of the birth of Italian democracy after Mussolini. A monumental synthesis of a chapter of Italian history& quite enjoyable to read. An eloquent and readable book that needed to be written. Perhaps for the first time, in a full-length English-language volume, many lazy stereotypes about 20th century Italy are successfully challenged. In this wise and penetrating book, Mark Gilbert demolishes the accepted view of postwar Italy as perpetually teetering on the edge of disaster and shows rather how it moved from the catastrophes of fascism and abject defeat in the Second World War to become a robust democracy which has lessons for the rest of us. A fascinating story wonderfully told. Writing with great flare, Gilbert tells the epic tale of Italys emergence from its darkest days under Fascism to its postwar democratic success. There is no better way to understand where Italy has come from than to read This is an important book that, for the first time in the English language, provides a thoroughly researched and balanced overview of Italys transition from fascism to democracy. Well written, rigorous and engaging, Mark Gilberts work is distinguished from others on this critical period in Italys history by his in-depth account, based on primary sources, of Christian Democrat leader Alcide De Gasperis decisive role in the countrys postwar democratization. Under his leadership, Italy was able to pursue a democratic path by aligning itself with the Western bloc, notwithstanding the Soviet-linked Communist Partys (PCI) growing influence in the early years of the Cold War. A detailed, nuanced work that sheds new light on a crucial era in Italian history. He starts with a very lucid, clear, surprising, and counter-intuitive argument, and sticks to it throughout. Though his case pounds along with sustained force, it is never dull or repetitive or anything other than keenly coherent. Reading